Ed Cooley "don't give a damn about Kentucky"...but why not?

Recently, Providence Coach Ed Cooley expressed his opinion on college basketball's 3rd ranked team Kentucky. In the words of Ed Cooley himself, "I don't give a damn about Kentucky. We play high profile programs every day in the Big East. The Big East is the best basketball conference in the country. We're going to play teams like that every single day."  Clearly there is a sense of confidence to go along with the complete absurdity that comes with Ed Cooley's comments. "We're going to play teams like that every single day." After a 7-1 start for the Providence Friars, it would seem Ed Cooley’s squad is a pretty worthy opponent for the 6-1 Kentucky Wildcats. But in the words of college football’s very own Lee Corso, “Not so fast my friend.” By no means does Providece’s record speak for itself as through the Friars first eight games, their opponents have a combined record of 24-33. In those eight games for Ed Cooley, here’s who Providence has played: two teams from the MAAC (Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference) in 0-7 Marist and 1-6 Fairfield, Brown from the Ivy League, SEC’s own Vandy, La Salle from the Atlantic 10, Vermont out of the American East Conference and two ACC teams in Boston College and Maryland who gave Providence its first loss. But remember Providence plays teams like Kentucky in the Big East everyday, which goes hand in hand with the fact they have yet to play a Big East team this season. Oh and that historic roster of McDonald’s All-Americans and future NBA players Cal has assembled doesn’t seem to phase Cooley either, “It’s a game. Congratulations, they’re good. They have all these great players. You know what? We have some great players, too. I do not want anybody to look at my team as if we are some step-child hoping to get lucky.” Of course you want to see Ed Cooley having faith in his players but to call his players great in comparison to Kentucky’s great players would be a bit of a stretched statement. According to Bleacher Report’s latest mock draft, Kentucky has fours players who are projected to be drafted in the first round (Randle-4^th, Young-11^th, Andrew Harrison-17^th, Cauley-Stein-21^st). Not to mention Alex Poythress, Dakari Johnson and Aaron Harrison who have all been projected to be drafted from several sources. Compare that to Providence guard Bryce Cotton who has been the lone player for the Friars to be in the draft talks for the late 2^nd round. Clearly there is a completely different talent level between the two teams who will face off in Brooklyn tonight at 8:30 pm ET. Despite all of the facts, something about Ed Cooley makes him feel Providence is up for the challenge against the Cats which seems highly unlikely. Go Cats.   @CodyDanielKSR